Stuart



March 24, 1964 R. STUART TONGS FOR CAN ENDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1960 INVENTQR RoBERT STUART A'r TY.

March 24, 1964 STUART 3,126,222 v TONGS FQR CAN ENDS Filed May 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllmll INVEN ROBERT RT H TT United States Patent 3,126,222. TGNGS FOR CAN ENDS Robert Stuart, Chicago, Ill, assignor to National Can Corporation, Chicago, 31., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 18, 195%, Ser. No. 3%,014 4 Claims. (31. 294-16) This invention relates to tongs and, more particularly, to tongs for handling the ends of metal cans, and is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 734,999 filed May 13, 1958, now abandoned.

In the manufacture of containers of the so-called tin can type it is the usual practice to fabricate the ends of the cans separately whereupon they may be loaded into a can making machine or stacked upon a rack or the like for subsequent transfer to the can making machine. Furthermore, can ends are handled frequently in connection with the delivery from the place of manufacture to the location at which they are used. When handling a group of can ends it is desirable that they be kept aligned and in a row so that the group of can ends form a stack since it is in this manner that they are loaded onto a can-making machine. Moreover, many can-making machines require hundreds of can ends per minute and, therefore, large groups of can ends must be loaded properly thereinto at frequent intervals.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide tongs that are capable of gripping a large number of can ends and picking them up as a group for purposes of conveying the can ends either to or from a storage rack or the like or to or from a can-making machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide tongs of the type stated that can separate a group of can ends from a larger group for carrying the separated group to the place needed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide tongs of the type stated which may be gripped in one hand by the person using the tongs and the tong jaws opened and closed quickly and easily by said one hand.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide tongs of the type stated which have a handle-forming frame capable of being easily gripped, and a mechanism carried by the frame for actuating the tong jaws, said mechanism being operable to close the jaws and lock them in closed position upon tightening of the hand grip upon the frame.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the tongs constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FEGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, of FIG. 1.

In the accompanying drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates tongs for can ends comprising a frame 1 formed of sheet metal and including a central handle or grip portion 2. The frame 1 is generally U-shaped in cross section and has a bight 3 and spaced parallel legs 4, 4 which, at their opposite ends, form leg extensions 5, 5' the latter terminating in four laterally projecting ears 6. The ears 6 are drilled for receiving screws 7 which Ice are threaded into a pair of spaced bearing blocks 8, 8' to hold the bearing blocks 8, 8 rigidly to the frame 1. Each of the bearing blocks 8, 8' projects laterally outwardly from the frame 1 and at their ends are each formed with spaced bores 9, 9' which receive pivot pins 16, iii.

Rockably mounted on the pivot pins l0, It) is a pair of jaws J, I each of which includes a pair of jaw arms 11, 11. The pivot pins 1t), it) pass through the jaw arms 11, 11' which are held against movement longitudinally of the pivot pins l0, 10' by means of washers 12 and cotter pins 13. At their outer ends 14 the jaw arms 11, 11' have welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto a pair of plate-like grippers 15, 15 which are substantially longer than the frame 1 and are bent into the concave form shown. By way of example, the length of the grippers 15, 15 may be of the order of 15 to 30 inches, although it will be apparent that grippers of shorter or longer length may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. At their opposite ends each of the grippers 15, 15 has cut-off plates 16, 16 lying at right angles to the length of the grippers 15, 15.

Mounted within the frame 1 is a jaw operating bar 17 which is sized for slidable movement between the legs 4 and has a central finger-gripping portion 18 which projects outwardly through the open side 19 of the frame 1. At its opposite ends the jaw operating bar 17 is formed with extensions 26, 29 having aligned holes 21, 21' there in. Also integrally formed on the jaw operating bar 17 in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the extensions 2%, 2d are flanges 22, 22. The extensions Ztl, 29 are sized for slidable disposition in outwardly opening slots 23, 23' which are formed centrally in the bearing blocks 8, 8 and the flanges 22, 22' are adapted to slide over the inner faces 24, 24 of the bearing blocks 8, 8.

Mounted in the holes 21 21' are pivot pins 25, 25 for rotatably supporting cylindrical cams as, 2 the latter being held on the pins 25, 25 by means of washers 27 and cotter pins 23. Adjacent the pivot pins 10, it) are spring anchor pins 29, 29' which are secured in and project outwardly from the jaw arms 11, 11 and are grooved for receiving the ends of tension springs 30, 30'. The springs 30, 3d bias jaw arm portions, as for instance, the inner ends 31, 31' of the jaw arms 11, 11 into engagement with the earns 26, 26'. Since the pivot pins ill, ill are between the springs 3d, 3b and grippers H, 15, the springs 39, 3t) tend to pull the grippers 15, 15 apart.

Formed in the jaw operating bar 17 in approximate alignment with the flange 22 is a recess 33 in which is mounted a latch bar 34, the latter being rockably secured in place by means of a pin 35 extending across the recess 33. The width of the latch bar 34 in the direction longitudinally of the jaw operating bar 17 is somewhat less than the width of the recess 33 in that direction so that the latch bar 34 is capable of a small amount of rocking movement to and fro along a path lengthwise of the jaw operating bar 17. The latch bar 33, furthermore, projects outwardly through an aperture 36 in the bight 3 and is formed with a notch 37 along one longitudinal edge thereof. Secured to the outside and inside faces respectively of the bight 3 by means of screws 38 is a catch plate 39 and a stop plate 4d. Also formed in the jaw operating bar 17 and lying at right angles to the recess 33 is a hole 41 which opens outwardly at one end of the jaw operating bar 33 and is adapted to receive a spring 42 which bears against and biases the latch bar 34 towards catch plate 39. Adjacent to this open end the hole 41 is threaded for receiving an adjusting screw 43 by which the spring 11 is held within the hole 41.

In use, the tongs are normally in the open position as shown in full lines in the drawing. In this position the parts of the jaw operating bar 17 between the flanges 22, 22' and extensions 20, 20' abut the bearing blocks 8, 8' which constitute stops for limiting the amount of opening of the jaw grippers 15, 15'. The notch 37 of the latch bar 34 will be within the confines of the frame 1 and the spring 42 will bias the latch bar 34 in a direction towards the catch plate 39. When it is desired to use the tongs to pick up a group of can ends, the latter may extend in stacked relation many times the length of the grippers 15, 15. The grip portion 2 of the frame 1 is grasped by the hand of the user much in the manner as that of a hand saw while the fingers are wrapped around central portion 18 of the jaw operating bar 17. The tongs are then placed over a row of can ends and lowered to bring the cut-off plates 16, 16' into the row or stack of cans, thus separating the group of can ends that is to be lifted from the remainder of the row or stack of can ends. The user then tightens his grip on the portion 2 and the jaw operating bar 17 to draw the jaw operating bar 17 towards the bight 3, whereupon the cams 26, 26 will move therewith and force the inner ends 31, 31' of the jaw arms 11, 11' away from each other in opposition to the force of the springs 30, 30'. Consequently, the grippers 15, 15' will move toward each other and grasp the group of can ends to be lifted as shown in broken lines, FIG. 3.

The jaw operating bar 17 is moved until the upper edge of the notch 37 rides over the end of the catch plate 39 whereupon the grip on the portion 2 and jaw operating bar 17 may be relaxed. This will allow the notch to interlock automatically with the catch plate 39 due to the biasing force of the spring 42 on the latch bar 34. Consequently, the grippers 15, will be held in their closed position, whereupon the group of can ends can be lifted from the stack or remainder of the row of can ends. The group of can ends may then be positioned into a canmaking machine by holding the tongs so that the grippers 15, 15' are vertical or in alignment with the magazine of the machine, whereupon the can ends may be lowered into the machine. The grippers 15, 15' may be released from the can ends by pushing the latch bar 34 with the thumb of the user away from the catch plate 39, whereupon the springs 30, will pull the inner ends 31, 31' of the jaw arms 11, 11' toward each other and spread apart the grippers 15, 15'. The force exerted by the springs 30, 30 will also pull the jaw operating bar 17 downwardly to the position shown in full lines in the drawing, so that the tongs may be again used in the manner previously described. When the tongs are in the released position they may be lifted from the canmaking machine. The tongs may also be used in the manner just described for stacking can ends on a rack or the like or for any other purpose in which it is desired to move a large group of can ends.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention.

What is considered new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Tongs for handling a stack of can ends, said tongs comprising a handle-forming frame open on one side, two similar jaws pivotally mounted on each end of the frame and secured to can-end gripping portions spaced from and substantially parallel to said frame and of a. length substantially in excess of the length of said frame, said jaws being movble to and from open and closed position, said can end gripping portions including at their ends cut-off plates that extend perpendicular to the pivot axes of the jaws and prevent endwise movement of the stack of can ends when the jaws are closed, spring means normally holding said jaws in one of said positions, jawoperating means slidably mounted in said frame and having a part thereof projecting outwardly through said open side to permit gripping thereof by the fingers of the hand of the operator when the latters hand is placed over the frame, said jaw-operating means being operable to shift the jaws from said one position to the other position when said jaw operating means is shifted by the fingers of the operator in a direction retracting the jaw-operating means into the frame, and releasable latch means for locking the jaw-operating means and frame together when the jaws are in said other position.

2. Tongs for handling a stack of can ends, said tongs comprising a frame, two similar jaws pivotally mounted on the frame with the pivot axes being parallel, each jaw comprising a pair of jaw-arms adjacent to opposite ends respectively of the frame, each said jaw furthermore including elongated can-end grippers attached to the jaw-arms and extending transversely thereof and being of a length substantially in excess of that of said frame, at least one end of each gripper having a cut-off plate thereon which is substantially parallel to the jaw-arms, a jaw-operating member slidably mounted on said frame and carrying cam means, spring means normally biasing portions of the jaw-arms against said cam means and holding the grippers in the open position and the jaw operating member in a first position, said jaw-operating member being slidable along the frame from the first to a second position to cause the cam means to move said portions of the jaw arms away from each other and move the grippers toward each other and to a closed position, latch means carried by the jaw-operating member for automatically locking the jaw-operating member in said second position, and said latch means being releasable to allow the spring means to shift the jaw-operating means to the first position and spread apart the grippers.

3. Tongs for handling a stack of can ends, said tongs comprising a handle-forming frame open on one side, two similar jaws pivotally mounted on the frame with the pivot axes being parallel, each jaw comprising a pair of jaw arms adjacent to opposite ends respectively of the frame and each jaw arm having inner and outer ends, elongated can end gripping portions attached to the outer ends of the jaw arms and extending transversely thereof and being of a length substantially in excess of that of said frame, said can end gripping portions being movable by the jaw arms to open and closed posit ons, cut-off plate means associated with the can end gripping portions for preventing endwise movement of the stack of can ends when the jaws are closed, a jaw-operating member slidably mounted on said frame and carrying cam means movable between the jaw arms, said jaw operating member having a part thereof that projects outwardly through said open side of the frame to permit gripping thereof by the fingers of the hand of the operator when the latters hand is placed over the frame, spring means biasing the inner ends of the jaw arms against the cam means and holding the can end gripping portions in one of their said two positions, said jaw-operating member being slidable along the frame to cause the cam means to move the inner ends of the jaw arms in a direction to move the can end grip-q ping portions to their other position, and latch means carried by the jaw operating member for locking the jaw operating member in the second position, said latch means being releasable to allow the spring means to shift the can end gripping portions to their first mentioned positions.

4. Tongs for handling a stack of can ends, said tongs comprising a handle-forming frame open on one side. two similar jaws pivotally mounted on the frame with the pivot axes being parallel, each jaw comprising a pair of jaw arms adjacent to opposite ends respectively of the frame and each jaw arm having inner and outer ends, elongated can end gripping portions attached to the outer ends of the jaw arms and extending transversely thereof and being of a length substantially in excess of that of said frame, said can end gripping portions being movable by the jaw arms to open and closed positions, a cutofi plate at the corresponding ends of the can end gripping portions and extending perpendicular to the pivot axes of the jaws and preventing endwise movement of the stack of can ends when the jaws are closed, a jawoperating member slidably mounted on said frame and carrying cam means movable between the jaw arms, said jaw operating member having a part thereof that projects outwardly through said open side of the frame to permit gripping thereof by the fingers of the hand of the operator when the latters hand is placed over the frame, spring means secured to the jaw arms and biasing the inner ends of the jaw arms against the cam means and holding the can end gripping portions in one of their said two positions, said jaw-operating member being slidable along the frame to cause the cam means to move the inner ends of the jaw arms in a direction to move the can end gripping portions to their other position, and latch means carried by the jaw operating member for automatically locking the jaw operating member in the second position, said latch means being releasable to allow the spring means to shift the can end gripping portions to their first mentioned positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,038 Ferris Jan. 31, 1911 1,056,478 Westfield Mar. 18, 1913 1,260,685 King et al Mar. 26, 1918 2,138,498 McMillan Nov. 29, 1938 2,398,747 Keith et al Apr. 16, 1946 2,441,494 Larmett et a1 May 11, 1948 2,746,788 Bixler May 12, 1956 2,789,006 Mattson Apr. 16, 1957 2,832,629 Anderson Apr. 29, 1958 2,997,326 Daum Aug. 22, 1961 

1. TONGS FOR HANDLING A STACK OF CAN ENDS, SAID TONGS COMPRISING A HANDLE-FORMING FRAME OPEN ON ONE SIDE, TWO SIMILAR JAWS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON EACH END OF THE FRAME AND SECURED TO CAN-END GRIPPING PORTIONS SPACED FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FRAME AND OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THE LENGTH OF SAID FRAME, SAID JAWS BEING MOVABLE TO AND FROM OPEN AND CLOSED POSITION, SAID CAN END GRIPPING PORTIONS INCLUDING AT THEIR ENDS CUT-OFF PLATES THAT EXTEND PERPENDICULAR TO THE PIVOT AXES OF THE JAWS AND PREVENT ENDWISE MOVEMENT OF THE STACK OF CAN ENDS WHEN THE JAWS ARE CLOSED, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY HOLDING SAID JAWS IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS, JAWOPERATING MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME AND HAVING A PART THEREOF PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPEN 